With €1.8million spread across the two days and fifteen races, eight of which are at Grade One level, is it any wonder all the stars are aligning at Leopardstown this weekend?
We kick off tomorrow with the Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup which has attracted a field of eight runners, four of which come from Willie Mullins' stable, but interestingly he probably doesn’t saddle two of the more talked about horses.
Frodon and Bryony Frost plundered a big Irish prize at Down Royal at the beginning of the season, now can they take the Irish Gold Cup for her boss Paul Nicholls? It’s a brave move coming into the lion’s den here in our back garden.
Minella Indo needs to bounce back to form and interestingly he is the mount of Robbie Power who has recently bounced back from injury, and Minella needs to recover from that very disappointing display in the King George.
On Sunday it’s all about the mare Honeysuckle – the best National Hunt horse in training anywhere in the world.
She remains unbeaten with 13 wins from 13, she’s the star attraction and she’s going for a hat-trick of wins in the Channel Pharma Irish Hurdle at 3pm on Sunday.
Throw in names like Chacun Pour Soi in the Dublin Chase, Galopin Des Champs and Master Mcshee in the Ladbrokes Novice Chase and Minella Times returning in the handicap, there are so many star attractions this weekend.
Jane Mangan was speaking on RTÉ Radio 1's Morning Ireland
Watch live coverage of the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player on Saturday (12.55pm) and Sunday (1.10pm).
